Bring the day closer!
Kagiso Onkatswitse | Thursday September 25, 2014 17:29
Forty-year-old Jacob Mokgwathise of Mogoditshane says he is ready for the general election. He says he is going to elect a candidate who will bring change in his area. “I am going to elect a person, not a party. I have long applied for a plot in 1995 in Mogoditshane, but I have not been allocated yet” he said.
For 24 year-old Tirelo Seboko of Mogoditshane, a new ruling party is a must. “This ruling party has ruled for too long. That alone makes it difficult for change in the society”, he says. Tirelo stated that people should give opposition parties a chance, so that they observe or gauge if there would be change. “There are no jobs especially for us youth. Job creation is seriously lagging behind. The other parties seem to be promising job creation, in that regard I vouch my vote for such,” he said. Concerning corruption, I cannot say much. It is too much. It happens at a high, said Tirelo.
For other possible voters like Bame and Bev who are friends, have both registered to vote at their respective constituencies. However, the two buddies differ politically. The twenty-six year Bame of Seolwane in Tshwapong, says she wants change. “I think BDP has done their best. Its high time we give others a chance.
They may give this country something the BDP did not offer”, she expressed passionately. Bame’s concern is the state of roads in her village. She is also concerned about the rate of poverty. She says that the poor people of Botswana are getting poorer while the richer a getting wealthier.
On the other hand, Bev says she is going to vote for her party, which is BDP. She says that the ruling party has experience, and as such it must continue. Other parties do not have that experience. However, I am not afraid of any change that may take place, she said.
Thirty-five year old Baitlhophile Kelaetse of Mogoditshane is ready to vote. “My party is BDP, and it is also for my children”, she said. This party has vision for people. The BDP leadership has responded very well in health issues such as HIV. They provide free antiretroviral treatment to all Batswana irrespective of party affiliation, she said.
Kerileleng Ramatebele of Mogoditshane says she has registered to vote. I have registered to vote because I want peace. I do not want instability in my country. That is why I am waiting to vote.
Vuvu Modie 39, of Gaborone Bonninton Constituency, says every election year he vote. I want leadership that will lead this country forward. What urges me to vote during the election is the health issue. Our pit latrines are full and not attended to when we report. They are smelly, that causes health hazard to residents here, he said.
Modie says he is concerned about land allocation in Botswana. “I applied for a residential plot in 1993 in Mogoditshane, as you can see, I am now getting older. I would not be able to afford it if I ever happen to be allocated one” he mentioned. On that note, I am happy that most of the time I see opposition parties selling themselves in my area, that gives me an option to my pending vote”, he said.
Twenty-one year old Bakang Motlaesi says he has registered to vote. “ This is my first vote, and I can not afford to miss the opportunity and experience”, says Motlaesi. For the young man, he says he is expecting change, especially in programs that can develop and empower the youth. I urge people to go and vote so that they express themselves”, he said.